The first thing to do is to compile a list of reinforcing/motivating items for the child.  The items should then be rated as to the child's level of desire for each one. Since toilet training was the most important skill being taught at this time, it is good to  use the child’s highest valued reinforcer. 

It was decided to purchase a new video of the child’s favorite show, “Barney” and a portable DVD player. This video would only be used in the bathroom and delivered when the targeted behavior occurred.

The realistic goal for this child at her present level of toileting skills was compliant sitting on the potty. Can you see how independent toileting is many steps down the road? First you have to identify a very strong item to be used as a reinforcer and make sure to deliver it  only when the targeted behavior occurs. The target behavior being compliant sitting on the potty. 

In addition, it is good to  use a “promise reinforcer” to transition the child to the bathroom when the timer goes off.  The other important element to address is to eliminate non-compliant behavior, or put it on extinction.  Extinction is a behavioral terms that refers to stopping the reinforcement of a previously reinforced undesired behavior causing the occurrence of that behavior to decrease. In everyday language, this is called ignoring or not paying attention to the behavior. 

A mother with a young child having Autism Spectrum Disorder is attempting the initial steps to toilet training using a schedule-training approach. The mother’s initial goal is to establish a positive bathroom routine and increase compliant behavior when sitting on the potty. A strong desirable item was identified that was to be delivered as a reinforcer upon compliant sitting behavior on the potty.

The child is placed on the potty every 20 minutes for a goal of 15 minutes. The timer goes off and the mother approaches the child with the DVD player and new video case of “Barney..” The mother prompts the child to walk to the bathroom keeping the promised reinforcer in sight but the child does not have any control over touching the items. The child is intrigued and willingly follows the mother into the bathroom. Her pants are removed giving physical assistance and she is seated on the potty. 

At that moment, the child gives out a high pitch deafening scream and attempts to hit her mother and pull her hair. The mother is to expect this behavior because it was the behavior being reinforced during prior toileting procedures. The mom quickly blocked the aggressive behavior, closed the DVD player and said in a calm neutral voice, “No video - Quiet.” In the past the mother would try to plead with the child to calm down. Now she is going to ignore or put this behavior on extinction.

The child sees her mother remove the promise reinforcer. The child becomes even more upset now that she is not receiving the video (extinction burst). Remember, in the past the child still received praise and chips for non-compliant behavior. The mother ignores the crying and blocks any running away behavior. Using a neutral voice and short direct commands the mother instructs her child, “Sit down - Quiet”. 

The child paused to take a breath and BAM! Mother turned on the video. The child, still upset started to whimper and the video went off. Now she realizes, I sit quiet and I can watch my video. The desire for that new video is stronger than her desire to avoid or escape sitting on the toilet. Compliant toilet sitting behavior is presently being established.

It isn’t long before the child can hear the timer go off and willingly walks to the bathroom and sits on the potty in anticipation of watching her bathroom video for the next 15 minutes!! Goal accomplished. 

This goal was accomplished through establishing a targeted behavior that can be achieved, given instruction on how behavior is established and shaped, and how to put undesirable behaviors previously reinforced on extinction. It is vital in order to achieve any goal to have a plan using good teaching methods.